Kayla and her mom met me on a sunny day in January at White Oaks on the Bayou to take her bridal portraits. I was so thankful the weather was clear and dry for a few days so we could venue out into the fields at White Oaks to take photos.
Last Saturday was Kayla & Bruce’s wedding day! Congratulations to the happy couple. I can’t wait to share their wedding photos with you. Come back in a week to see their wedding photography!
See some of my other bridal portraits below.
First look photograph, first touch photograph, first kiss photographed… There are so many new and exciting options for your wedding day photography.
Are you considering a first look before your wedding day, but your fiance doesn’t want to tempt fate (because it’s bad luck to see each other before your wedding.)? There are a dozen other options!
Now’s your chance to be creative!
You could have a first touch (where you are separated by a wall or door, but your hands touch and you can talk to each other). A First kiss is executed by blindfolding your fiance so they can’t see you. Maybe you both want to be blindfolded. Go for it! Get a bridesmaid or groomsmen to help lead you to each other (someone you trust not to lead you into a wall or door). You could use funny blindfolds with eyes on them, or Darth Vader masks (that would be sweet!).
Lastly, you can also do the funny option of either having one of the grooms men dress in a white dress, or you can put on a costume (that is not your dress) like a blow-up dinosaur costume.
Me personally, I love when couples opt for one of these options. I think it’s a great way to relieve some of the jitters and stress of your wedding day. There are so so many unique and fun things you can do to have that sweet, intimate moment, without breaking from tradition, before you step in front of all of your friends and family to say ‘I do’.
Are you considering one of these options? Let’s talk through your ideas and the process.
It was the day after valentines day and Carrie and Jeremy were celebrating the holiday that day. Carrie bought Jeremy a new Astros jersey to wear for the engagement portraits and Jeremy’s brother was there to sneak around in the background of our photos. I love the goofy vibe I got from the two as I was taking their photos.
Jeremy told me he was uncomfortable in front of cameras, which I totally understand. At one point he joked that every shutter click was causing him pain. I asked if I was stealing his sole, he joked that I was just a little bit every time, though Carrie has been steeling his sole just a little bit with her picture taking too. lol
How did they meet?
We both worked at a bar and I yelled at him the first time I met him. Then he invited me up for drinks one night, he will tell you he went for a high 5 instead of a kiss, but after that the rest was history.
It was only fitting that we were able to take Jermey & Carrie’s engagement portraits in a bar in downtown Houston. I had so much fun exploring the bar and it’s surroundings all while learning more about Jeremy and Carrie. Jeremy is a HUGE Astros fan, so we were able to incorporate some baseball into their photos. I love that Jeremy and Carrie recreated their first kiss for me to photograph.
Thanks for the fun and laughs, Jeremy & Carrie.
It’s nearly here, your wedding day, are your ready? It’s okay, no one is truly ready. There is always some last minute things you need to get. I today’s blog, I am going to break down a wedding photography detail check-list.
First, I wanted to break down how some photographers go about taking detail photography. Usually the detail photos happen very early on your wedding day. It’s one of the first things a photographer does when they get to your venue.
We take a few shots of the wedding dress hanging up. If they are available, we add your bridesmaids dresses to the mix. Then we start adding elements and taking elements away. Next shoes, veil. Remove the dress and just shoot the shoes and veil… and so on. The movement (if you consider taking detail photos as a ballet) is very liquid. We work with what we have.
So how can you have everything ready so the photographer can knock those photos out (wham-bam-thank you-ma’am)?
I was in awe of the venue. It is so open and has so many unique places to take photos. If your style is more light and airy, like mine, the bridal suite is spacious and bright and the chapel is AMAZING! Also, that red door is so much fun!
The dark wood of the main building works well to make white wedding dresses stand out.
I must circle back to the bridal suite. As a wedding photographer, The Carriage House does a phenomenal job with this room!! It had several seats in front of mirrors for all of your bridesmaids, 2 swivel chairs in front of mirrors for your hair and makeup artist to work at, and I heard someone saying they use the connected room as a place for the couple to have a quiet dinner alone (if they want).
Though it was cold and drizzly, everyone had so much fun, and the photos are amazing!
Vendors:
Venue: The Carriage House
Makeup: Hair by Alyx
Hair: Alexis Katherinee & Laliita Le Stylist
Dresses: The Princess Bridal
Flowers: Inheritance Floral Designs & Events
Design: C + M Designs
Linens: Events to Remember
Food/Drink: Jo’s Mini Mobile Bar, Alchemy Bake Lab, Gelato Joy
Check out my Carriage House wedding photography.
I was reminded of something a mother-of-the-bride said to me a few years as I was taking Emily & Jacob’s engagement photos with a dragonfly hovering in the picture. Last year, while taking Dallis’s bridal portraits, a dragonfly landed on the her dress. Her mom said not to move it and to take a picture of it on her dress because dragonfly’s were lucky. I looked into it, they aren’t only lucky they represent prosperity.
That got me thinking, what other things are considered lucky for weddings?
What are your thoughts on good luck charm’s at weddings? Drop me a message below. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Today, I wanted to highlight an amazing wedding venue, The Carriage House in Conroe Texas. I had the pleasure of poking around, talking to their wonderful staff and taking some photos of the Carriage House last Wednesday. It is such a stunning location. Every time I turned around I found a new favorite location to take photos of wedding couples.
I asked Anna & Kristi a few questions that I thought might be helpful in your wedding planing process. Check out their answers and some photos from their venue.
QUESTIONS:
Kelly: Who is the point person for couples coming to your venue?
Anna: Myself and Kristi are typically the couple’s point of contact when they come to tour. We do have other staff they would have on their wedding day and they will hear from the owner via email throughout the planning process.
 Anna |  Kristi |
K: That’s pretty awesome that the owner sends a personal email!
K: What is the best way for couples to schedule an appointment to tour your venue?
A: We have a self scheduling function on our website, but we are happy to schedule them as well via email or phone.
K: What is your personal favorite part about the venue.
A: The Chapel, which is our newest addition.
K: What is the most unique/fun/creative thing you have seen at a wedding at your venue?
A: That’s a tough one! I’ve seen so many unique ideas. We did have one couple, they were both engineers, and they used a 3D printer to create some items to incorporate into their centerpieces.
K: What is your rain contingency?
A: We have both an outdoor and indoor ceremony area and the reception space is indoors.
K: Do you have a max and a minimum guest count?
A: 75-300 people is the best range!
K: How far in advance should couples book your venue?
A: A year and a half if they want a Saturday. A year still works well for Fridays and Sundays.
K: What makes your venue unique to other venues.
A: The chapel and the waterfront garden.
A: I’ve been here for several years and have seen how the company keeps striving to make wedding days better and better with each passing year! That’s defiantly something to look for in your venue.
This is a question I hear a lot when talking with wedding couples. Generally they’re still a little early in on their planing process and (God bless them) worried about the lighting for their wedding and proceeding portraits.
First, I want to thank each and every single bride and/or groom who is voicing this concern, or even reading this article. Thank you for making our jobs, as the wedding photographer, easier. It’s eminently harder to take outdoor wedding photos when the
sun has already set. Trust me, I’ve been there.
As an outdoor wedding photographer in the Houston area, I tend to photograph a lot of outdoor weddings. Go figure, lol. It’s my favorite type of wedding. Minus a month or so in August and a month or so in January or February when it’s too hot or too cold, Houston pretty much has an ideal climate for year-round outdoor weddings. Even so, I find myself photographing outdoor weddings year-round even during the more harsh times of year.
To answer the question, ‘When is the best time to get married?’ First you must consider the time of year and the direction your wedding will be held. Imagine yourself standing at the alter with your love saying “I do.” Now imagine your wedding photographer and the background they’ll have taking those precious photos.
I use this sun graph all the time when I’m trying to figure out when to set up engagement portraits, bridal portraits and when clients ask me when is the best time for them to have their outdoor wedding.
To use this graph, hover your mouse (or finger) over the graph and move it around, you will see the date below in pink changes. When you get to your preferred date, click on the graph. I have mine set to 1/21/2020. You’ll see (if you are looking at the same date) that night starts at 7:12pm. If you were taking photos outside today, you should be totally done by this time and inside, hopefully eating! You have between 5:49 pm to 7:12 pm to take awesome sunset photos during and after your outdoor wedding ceremony.
Was this helpful? Leave a comment below to let me know how helpful this was, or if you have more questions about when to start your outdoor wedding.
A few days before Christmas, Sion & Niome married under swaying oak trees at the Cross Key Acres wedding venue. The weather was a bit balmy and the sun refused to appear from behind it’s blanket of clouds, but spirits were high.
The music began and Niomi’s daughters walked the aisle with joyful tears in their eyes. After the 3 adorable flower girls walked the isle, came Niomi. Sion beamed at his bride. He looked like the happiest man in the world at that moment.
Sion & Niome had a hand washing ceremony, assisted by Niome’s daughter, then they said their vows and kissed under the oak trees.
Everyone was ready to party well into the night. There was dancing of all kinds, including a dollar dance with both the bride and the groom. Everyone got in on the fun and managed to get a dance with one or both of the happy couple.
The couple ended the night with a bubble exit and headed out to continue partying well into the night.
Venue: Cross Key Acres
Flowers: Made by the Bride
I can’t believe 2019 has already come and gone! It has been such a whirlwind year for me and my wedding photography business.
2019 marked the first full year of my rebrand. I was concerned about the slow pick up at the beginning of the year, but things quickly improved.
We shot a total of 5 weddings, 6 engagement portrait sessions a few random sessions and endless family portraits. There were a few bumps in the road, as there always is, but we managed through. This year was my first attempt at scheduling and shooting a styled shoot. I enjoyed it immensely. So much so that I am already scheduled to do another one next month and have 2 or 3 ideas to work out as well.
Tristan started Kindergarten this year. We learned a lot about where he lands on the bell curve for reading and math. Andy started a new job this year that he has really enjoyed and that has allowed him to go places he never would have imagined. This year, I started my creep toward becoming a full time photographer.
I can’t wait to see what 2020 will bring!
From my family to yours, have a fun, prosperous and most importantly happy 2020.
WelcomeI'm so glad you stopped by. I love sharing my experience and odd-ball imagination with my brides and groom.
Take a look around.
Leave a thought or two.